Co-op

The Co-op is a leading convenience retailer, with more than 2,500 stores across the UK - that's one in every postal area. As a member-owned cooperative it is guided by principles that include open membership and concern for community. Wild caught fish represent around two thirds of Co-op brand fish products.

Number of Fisheries Used

Number of Fisheries Well Managed

Number of Fisheries Managed

Number of fisheries in need of improvement

Profile not yet complete

Number of Fisheries Used

40

Number of Fisheries Well Managed

28

Number of Fisheries Managed

6

Number of fisheries in need of improvement

4

Profile not yet complete

2

Fishing Methods Used in Associated Fisheries

Midwater trawl

Bottom trawl

Dredge

Seine nets

Purse seine

Gillnets and entangling nets

Hook and line

Long line

Handlines and pole-lines

Pots and traps

Miscellaneous

Summary

Co-op Food has a public policy to carefully monitor and control its fish supplies, applying this policy to all fresh, frozen and processed fish across its own-brand range. Aiming to source all its seafood from well managed farms and fisheries, Co-op has been working with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) to understand risks in its seafood supply chain since 2012, and became one of the first companies to participate in the Ocean Disclosure Project in 2015. Co-op is also a member of the Sustainable Seafood Coalition (SSC), a partnership of UK businesses working together to support sustainable seafood, and ensures that all seafood is sourced and labelled in accordance with the SSC Codes of Conduct. Co-op Food supports several fishery improvement projects (FIPs) and notably increased its range of MSC-certified products from 28 in 2015 to 54 in 2017.

Species and Location

Production Methods

Midwater trawl

Certification or Improvement Project

Certified

Stock Status and Management

Well managed

Environmental Notes

Occasional interactions with seabirds and marine mammals are known to occur within this fishery, but data is too limited to state whether this hinders their recovery. An MSC condition is in place to provide evidence of effects on PET species.

Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.

This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

This fish plays an important role in the marine food web and so potential impacts on the wider marine ecosystem must be monitored.

Production Methods

Certification or Improvement Project

Certified

Stock Status and Management

Well managed

Environmental Notes

There are risks to seabirds and marine mammals with this fishery, but there are mitigation measures in place.

There is bycatch for this fishery but non-target species are retained. Management measures are in place to reduce impacts on retained species.

The impact depends on the gear type. Bottom trawls and anchored gillnets will have the greatest impact on the sea bed. MSC conditions and recommendations are in place to strengthen understanding of fishery interactions with sensitive habitat.

Species and Location

Production Methods

Certification or Improvement Project

FIP

Stock Status and Management

Needs improvement

Environmental Notes

There are risks to sea turtles and marine mammals of entanglement in pot ropes with this fishery.

Bycatch for this fishery is considered low. Non-target species are usually released alive.

This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

This fishery was in an FIP from 2012 to 2017. The Orkney edible crab creel fishery then entered into the full MSC assessment process in May 2017, it is anticipated that if the fishery meets the standard it will be certified in 2018.

Other ratingsThe Marine Conservation Society categorises the Orkney fishery for edible crab using creels and pots as "Rating 3 (yellow)". This rating was downgraded from "Rating 2 (pale green) in 2018.

Caveat

The stock status and management rating for this fishery is based on a provisional assessment and is not derived from the FishSource profile.

Species and Location

Production Methods

Certification or Improvement Project

Not certified or in a FIP

Stock Status and Management

Needs improvement

Environmental Notes

Profile not yet complete.

Bycatch is a risk for this fishery.

Dredges will directly impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

Other ratingsThe Marine Conservation Society categorises the Irish Sea dredge fishery for Queen scallop as "Rating 5 (red)".CaveatThe stock status and management rating for this fishery is based on a provisional assessment and is not derived from the FishSource profile.ReferencesMCS's Good Fish Guide - Scallop, Queen, scallops, Irish Sea